IMMOBILIZATION OF BIOMOLECULES

IMMOBILIZATION OF BIOMOLECULES RESULTS IN GREAT LOSSES OF SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES OF THE IMMOBILIZED MOIETIES. THE USE OF HYDROPHILIC SPACERS BETWEEN THE BIOMOLECULES AND THE MATRIX RESULTS IN IMPROVED ACTIVITIES. HOWEVER, FACILE INTRODUCTION OF SUCH SPACERS ONTO MANY INSOLUBLE SUPPORTS ISDIFFICULT WITHOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE SUPPORT OR THE USE OF SOPHISTICATED CHEMISTRY. DURING PHASE I, IT WAS DEMONSTRATED THAT SEVERAL MATRICES COULD BE DERIVATIZED WITH HYDROPHILIC SPACERS. COUPLING OF MODEL MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND THEIR COMPLEMENTARY ANTIGENSTO THESE SPACER-DERIVATIZED SURFACES LED TO GREATER TOTAL AND SPECIFIC IMMUNOACTIVITIES AS COMPARED TO DIRECT COUPLINGPROCEDURES. PHASE II EFFORTS WILL OPTIMIZE THE CHEMICAL PROCEDURES TO DEVELOP MATRICES DERIVATIZED WITH HYDROPHILIC SPACERS, WHICHWILL BE OF BENEFIT TO ALL USERS OF MICROTITER PLATES, POLYSTYRENE BEADS, GEL MEDIA, OR OTHER MATRICES TO WHICH BIOMOLECULES ARE COMMONLY COUPLED. THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS EXPECTED TO RESULT FROM THIS PROJECT WILL LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERAL SUPPORT MATERIALS THAT WILL BE OPTIMIZED FOR FACILE, SPECIFIC COUPLING OF BIOMOLECULES, SUCH AS ANTIBODIES, ANTIGENS, AND ENZYMES, ANDWILL GREATLY INCREASE THE TOTAL AND SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES OF THE IMMOBILIZED MOLECULES. AWARDEE'S STATEMENT OF THE POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONSOF THE RESEARCH: COVALENT BINDING OF BIOMOLECULES AND THE USE OF OPTIMIZED SPACERS ON MICROTITER PLATES, GEL MEDIA, AND POLYSTYRENE BEADS WILL PROVIDE SUPPORTS USEFUL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND/OR IMPROVED ASSAYS FOR SPECIFIC ANALYTE DETECTION AND SUPPORTS FOR PURIFICATION OF BIOMOLECULES. INCREASED LOADING OF BIOMOLECULES WIHT INCREASED BIOMOLECULE ACTIVITIES WILL MAKE THESE SUPPORTS ATTRACTIVE FOR MANY APPLICATIONS.